Mother Imprisoned for Killing 4-Year-Old Daughter by Feeding Her a Diet of Mountain Dew

An Ohio mother has been jailed after admitting to killing her four-year-old daughter by feeding her baby bottles filled with Mountain Dew.

Tamara Banks, 41, was sentenced this week to up to 13 and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of her daughter, Karmity Hoeb, in January 2022.

Karmity passed away in the hospital from complications related to diabetes. Prosecutors described how the child’s teeth had rotted away by the time she died.

The little girl’s father, Christopher Hoeb, 53, also pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 11.

Banks pleaded guilty in March, following an indictment for both her and Karmity’s father on multiple charges, including murder and child endangerment.

Karmity passed away at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center after being rushed there due to symptoms related to type-1 diabetes.

By the time medics attempted to revive her, scans revealed she was brain dead.

Karmity’s cause of death was listed as diabetic ketoacidosis, which had spread to her brain. Prosecutors condemned Banks and Hoeb, stating her death could have been prevented if they had sought treatment for her diabetes.

It’s important to note that a regular 12-ounce can of Mountain Dew contains nearly 50 grams of sugar.

Prosecutors pointed out that Karmity was continually fed through baby bottles long after she should have been weaned, and there was no evidence that Banks ever took her to a dentist.

Alarmingly, Karmity’s online obituary includes a tribute written by Banks and Hoeb, where they expressed their love for their daughter and claimed she had a happy childhood, despite evidence of abuse and neglect.

“Our precious daughter Karmity Faythe Hoeb, whom we nicknamed Boogie, which suited her personality because she loved to be silly,” the obituary read.

“She also loved looking at herself in the mirror because she knew how beautiful and special she was.

Smart and vibrant. The camera loved her almost as much as she loved smiling real big and saying cheese. Each day she woke up full of joy and love.

Every day she was playing with her Mickey buddies and racing her cars. She touched everyone who ever laid eyes on her or spent any time with her. She will always be remembered as our daughter, our guardian angel now.”